The Oyo State Government has sealed Covenant College of Health Technology and Medical Sciences, located in Apata, Ibadan, for operating without due accreditation and for offering unauthorised health-related programmes.
The closure was carried out on Friday by officials of the Oyo State Ministry of Health, led by the Director of Nursing Services, Dr. Kehinde Oyebode, who represented the Commissioner for Health during the enforcement visit.
According to the Ministry, the college had been deceiving the public by running unapproved programmes disguised as legitimate health training courses. Among the illegal offerings uncovered were “Nursing Technician” and “Nursing Assistant” programmes — both of which are not recognised by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) or approved by the Ministry of Health.
“Let it be clear: there is no such thing as a ‘Nursing Technician’ or ‘Nursing Assistant’ course within the framework of Nigeria’s approved health training curricula,” Oyebode stated.
She condemned the institution’s operations, describing them as unlawful and misleading to students and parents who believed they were pursuing accredited professional qualifications.
Oyebode expressed concern over the potential risks such illegal operations pose to public health, noting that the school had begun academic activities and collected tuition fees without securing the necessary regulatory approvals.
“This is a serious violation. The health sector is not one where we can afford to cut corners,” she emphasised. “Untrained and unlicensed individuals posing as health workers endanger lives. The government will not tolerate this kind of illegality.”
She further explained that nursing education in Nigeria is a highly regulated field, and only institutions accredited by the NMCN or affiliated with recognised teaching hospitals are permitted to train individuals in the nursing profession.
Following the findings, the Ministry of Health ordered an immediate shutdown of the college’s operations until it complies with all statutory requirements, including institutional licensing and programme accreditation.
In addition, the Ministry issued a public advisory urging residents of Oyo State and beyond to avoid Covenant College of Health Technology and any other unapproved health training institutions.
“We urge parents, guardians, and prospective students to always verify the accreditation status of any health-related institution before making commitments. The list of approved schools is publicly available through the Ministry and regulatory bodies like the NMCN,” Oyebode said.
The incident underscores growing concerns about the proliferation of unlicensed institutions across Nigeria that exploit the rising demand for healthcare training by offering fraudulent programmes with no legal recognition.
Education and health stakeholders have consistently called for stricter oversight and enforcement by relevant agencies to protect citizens from falling prey to such illegal establishments.
This enforcement action aligns with Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration’s commitment to upholding educational integrity, public accountability, and ethical standards across Oyo State.
Government officials reaffirmed their determination to sanitise the education sector and ensure that only accredited and professionally supervised institutions are allowed to operate.
The Oyo State Ministry of Health reiterated that Covenant College of Health Technology and Medical Sciences will remain sealed until it obtains the appropriate licences and programme accreditations from authorised regulatory bodies.
For verification or inquiries regarding the accreditation status of any health training institution, the public is advised to contact the Ministry directly or visit the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) website.
